Use of some essential oils as natural preservatives for butter

Thyme and cumin essential oils were used in the present study in an attempt to prevent butter deterioration during storage at room temperature. Butter oxidation and lipolysis were followed by measuring the acid, peroxide and TBA values. Lipolytic activity and total microbial and lipolytic bacterial counts were also measured. During butter storage, very little change in the peroxide and TBA values were found while a gradual increase in the acid value was noticed. The addition of cumin and thyme oils at 200 ppm to butter caused very little increase in the acid value. The data for lipolytic bacterial counts were in general agreement with the acid values. Thyme and cumin essential oils showed a greater anti-hydrolytic effect and act as superior preservatives compared to BHT.     

Recurrent regular trisomy-21 in two Bedouin families. Parental mosaicism versus genetic predisposition

Two young, unrelated multiplex families with Bedouin ancestors, each confirmed to have 3 sibs with recurrent regular trisomy-21 are reported. Low grade mosaicism for trisomy-21 (3/350 cells) was confirmed in the mother in one of the families but not in the other. However, two of the relatives (first degree) were confirmed to have Down syndrome. The recurrence risk for trisomy-21 based on livebirth and prenatal diagnosis data were estimated at 1 to 2 percent for couples 35 years old or younger at the time of conception. However, such risk estimates are not available for recurrence of simple trisomy-21 to a particular couple (<35 years). Clustering of trisomy-21, trisomy-18 has been reported among Bedouins. The possibility of cryptic parental mosaicism as well as should be considered in genetic counselling of families with sibships of regular trisomy-21 or other aneuploidy.     

Ocular-specific chemical delivery systems of betaxolol for safe local treatment of glaucoma

This paper examines the social origins of the rise in adult mortality in Russia and selected Eastern European countries. Three explanations for this trend are considered: (1) Soviet health policy, (2) social stress, and (3) health lifestyles. The socialist states were generally characterized by a persistently poor mortality performance as part of a long-term process of deterioration, with particularly negative outcomes for the life expectancy of middle-aged, male manual workers. Soviet-style health policy was ineffective in dealing with the crisis, and stress per se does not seem to be the primary cause of the rise in mortality. Although more research is needed, the suggestion is made that poor health lifestyles--reflected especially in heavy alcohol consumption, and also in smoking, lack of exercise, and high-fat diets--are the major social determinant of the upturn in deaths.     

Effects of varied substrates on aflatoxin production byA. parasiticus

Sterilized and nonsterilized wheat kernels, soybean seeds, sesame seeds, peanut and faba bean were infected byA. parasiticus. The chemical composition, aflatoxin content and fatty acid patterns of the seeds were determined. The aflatoxins B₁, B₂, G₁ and G₂ were detected, and the amounts of the unsaturated toxins (B₁ and G₁) were greater than the respective dihydro derivatives (B₂ and G₂). Sterilized seeds infected by the fungus contained greater amounts of aflatoxins than those infected without previous sterilization. the highest and lowest toxicity indices were recorded for sterilized wheat and soybeans, respectively. Sesame, peanut and soybean exhibited intermediate toxicity indices. The toxicity of the aflatoxins produced was related significantly in every instance to the carbohydrate and lipid:protein ratio, and not to the polyunsaturated fatty acids of the seeds.     

Concentrations of metals associated with mining waste in sediments, biofilm, benthic macroinvertebrates, and fish from the Coeur d''Alene River basin, Idaho

p64 is a protein identified as a chloride channel by biochemical purification from kidney microsomes. We expressed p64 in HeLa cells using a recombinant vaccinia virus/T7 RNA polymerase driven system. Total cell membranes were prepared from infected/transfected cells and fused to a planar lipid bilayer. A novel chloride channel activity was found in cells expressing p64 and not in control cells. The p64-associated activity shows strong anion over cation selectivity. Single channels show prominent outward rectification with single channel conductance at positive potentials of 42 pS. The chloride channel activity is activated by treatment of the membranes with alkaline phosphatase and inhibited by DNDS and by TS-TM calix(4)arene. Whole membrane anion permeability was determined by a chloride efflux assay, revealing that membranes from cells expressing p64 showed a small but highly significant increase in chloride permeability, consistent with expression of a novel chloride channel activity.     

Design, processing and cost considerations in materials substitution

Materials substitution should be performed as part of an integrated activity where redesign, processing and cost are analysed simultaneously. The paper illustrates this approach by analysing the substitution of the material of a steam control valve gate. The selection is narrowed to two candidate materials, each with its alternative design and sequence of manufacturing processes. A simpler design requiring a less complex manufacturing sequence is associated with the Haynes Alloy R-41, thus making it economically more attractive than type S42200 stainless steel, which requires a more complex design and manufacturing sequence. However, there has been no experience of using the Haynes Alloy as valve gate material.     

Thermoluminescence dosimetry in the μGy range of neodymium-doped tellurite-phosphate glass

Thermoluminescence (TL) of tellurite-phosphate glass of the composition of (TeO_20.81-P₂O_50.19) doped with different concentrations of Nd₂O₃ was prepared. The optimum concentration of Nd₂O₃ was experimentally determined as 10^–3 wt% Nd₂O₃ in this glass. TL showed a single, isolated glow curve which peaked at approximately 498–513 K (depending on the Nd concentration). This peak is very suitable for radiation dosimetry, and obeys second-order kinetics. The TL response against the irradiation dose was found to be linear in the low-dose region (11.2–224.2 Gy), indicating the high sensitivity of our glass samples to low-dose rays. Finally, the trap depth was also calculated, using methods concerning the second-order kinetics.     

Classification algorithms for quantitative tissue characterization of diffuse liver disease from ultrasound images

Visual criteria for diagnosing diffused liver diseases from ultrasound images can be assisted by computerized tissue classification. Feature extraction algorithms are proposed in this paper to extract the tissue characterization parameters from liver images. The resulting parameter set is further processed to obtain the minimum number of parameters which represent the most discriminating pattern space for classification. This preprocessing step has been applied to over 120 distinct pathology-investigated cases to obtain the learning data for classification. The extracted features are divided into independent training and test sets, and are used to develop and compare both statistical and neural classifiers. The optimal criteria for these classifiers are set to have minimum classification error, ease of implementation and learning, and the flexibility for future modifications. Various algorithms of classification based on statistical and neural network methods are presented and tested. The authors show that very good diagnostic rates can be obtained using unconventional classifiers trained on actual patient data.     

Studies on Some New Reactive Disperse Dyes

The preparation of some new reactive disperse dyes which can be used for dyeing 100% synthetic and fibre blends is described. The preparation of some disperse dyes containing a chlorohydrin group is also described. This radical is the precursor of the epoxide reactive group in the active form of these dyes. Dyeings produced on various fibre blends by a two–stage high–temperature and by a carrier–dyeing technique are assessed. It was found that dyeings produced by the high–temperature technique were brighter, more level and possessed much better technical properties than those obtained using the carrier–dyeing method. The fastness properties of dyed samples were determined and found to be comparable with those of conventional disperse and reactive dyes. The colour yield was also determined in order to examine the possibility of obtaining deep dyeings on blended fibres, and to evaluate the potential commercial use of these dyes for dyeing blends as well as 100% synthetic–polymer fibres.