Influence of precursors on the formation of 3‐MCPD and glycidyl esters in a model oil under simulated deodorization conditions

To find new ways for reducing the potential of palm oil to form 3‐monochloropropane‐1,2‐diol (3‐MCPD) and glycidyl esters during refining it is helpful to know more about the influence of different precursors like diacylglycerols (DAGs) and monoacylglycerols (MAGs), lecithin, and chlorine containing compounds. After adding increasing amounts of the different precursors to a model oil obtained by removal of polar compounds from crude palm oil and heating the mixture under standardized conditions to 240°C for 2 h the contents of 3‐MCPD and glycidyl esters were analyzed according to the standard procedure of DGF C‐VI 18 (10). DAGs and MAGs were found to increase the potential of palm oil to form 3‐MCPD and glycidyl esters, but refined lecithin showed no influence. Sodium chloride as well as tetra‐n‐butylammoniumchloride (TBAC) led to higher contents of the esters. Whereas the addition of TBAC raised the amount of glycidyl esters as well as 3‐MCPD esters, sodium chloride largely raised the amount of 3‐MCPD esters. An addition of 5 mmol of sodium carbonate/kg model oil spiked with sodium chloride reduced the amount of glycidyl esters almost completely; the 3‐MCPD esters were reduced by 50%. About 1 mmol sodium hydrogen carbonate/kg oil reduced both 3‐MCPD and glycidyl esters almost completely. Practical applications : For the mitigation of the formation of 3‐MCPD esters and related compounds in refined edible oils, it is helpful to know more about the effect of different possible precursors. Using a broader data basis, it is possible to adopt the oil processing but especially the choice of the raw material to the demands of the market for lower contents of the esters in the refined products.     

Detection of Defects Using Fault Model Oriented Test Sequences

This paper analyzes the possibilities and limitations of defect detection using fault model oriented test sequences. The analysis is conducted through the example of a short defect considering the static voltage test technique. Firstly, the problem of defect excitation and effect propagation is studied. It is shown that the effect can be either a defective effect or a defect-free effect depending on the value of unpredictable parameters. The concept of Analog Detectability Interval (ADI) is used to represent the range of the unpredictable parameters creating a defective effect. It is demonstrated that the ADIs are pattern dependent. New concepts (Global ADI, Covered ADI) are then proposed to optimize the defect detection taking into account the unpredictable parameters. Finally, the ability of a fault oriented test sequence to detect defect is discussed. In particular, it is shown that the test sequence generated to target the stuck-at faults can reasonably guarantee short defect detection till a limit given by the Analog Detectability Intervals.     

Cocontraction changes in muscular fatigue at different levels of isometric contraction

Ten normal subjects participated in a study designed to contrast results obtained in pre- and post-fatigue states. The measures contrasted were the IEMG ratios of agonist/antagonist pairs of muscles. The experimental task was an 8 s ramp isometric elbow flexion ranging from 0 to 100% of a maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). IEMG ratios were obtained at levels of 20, 40, 60 and 80% MVC. Records from the following muscles were obtained with surface electrodes: biceps brachii (BB), brachioradialis (BR), triceps brachii (TB) and anconeus (SU). The torque at the elbow joint was measured by a Cybex II dynamometer. Fatigue was induced using a 60% MVC of elbow flexion maintained during 5 minutes. The data were collected on-line at a sampling rate of 1 kHz. The results indicated that the IEMG ratios (BB/TB and BR/SU) presented a tendency, across subjects, toward a decrease at the levels of 40%, 60% and 80% MVC at the post- relative to the pre-fatigue state. The BB/BR ratios remained stable. These changes in the post-fatigue ratios disclose a tendency toward a saturation of the agonist occurring concomitantly with an increased level of contraction of the antagonists.     

Case of successful percutaneous stenting of an in situ gastroepiploic-coronary bypass graft

A case of juvenile acute cutaneous leishmaniasis is reported. Treatment with freezing with CO2 snow was beneficial in healing of cutaneous lesions and no relapses have occurred.     

Young low responders protected from untoward effects of reduced ovarian response

OBJECTIVE(S): To correlate fertilization and clinical pregnancy rates (PRs) in low responders with their E2 levels (<500, 500-800, >800-1,000 pg/mL), age (20-30, 31-40, >40 years), number of follicles, and number of oocytes retrieved. DESIGN: A retrospective study. SETTING: The IVF unit of an academic hospital. PATIENT(S): One hundred forty-three women who failed to attain E2 levels of 1,000 pg/mL on the day of hCG administration. INTERVENTION(S): Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, blood E2 and progesterone measurements, ultrasonographic scanning of ovarian follicles, oocyte retrieval after hCG administration, and ET. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Clinical PR. RESULT(S): Although E2 levels, fertilization rates, age, and number of oocytes did not differ significantly between the three age groups, the PR achieved in the youngest group was approximately three times as high (19.3%) as that achieved in the two older groups. CONCLUSION: Young low responders represent a unique subset in that their age protects them from the deleterious effects of poor ovarian response.     

In vivo spatio-temporal visualization of the human skin by real-time confocal microscopy

A modified tandem scanning confocal microscope is used to obtain in vivo images of the human skin in real time. Three-dimensional and temporal visualizations are demonstrated with volume reconstruction and blood flow images. Two image processing methods based on Fourier transform and logarithmic processing are presented. Their applications in noise removal of the scanning disk lines and of the heterogeneity of light are illustrated.     

Effects of neuromuscular blocking agents on excitatory transmission and gamma-aminobutyric acidA-mediated inhibition in the rat hippocampal slice

BACKGROUND: Although neuromuscular blocking agents do not cross the blood-brain barrier, they may penetrate the central nervous system under particular circumstances and eventually cause neurotoxic consequences. METHODS: The effects of neuromuscular blocking agents on excitatory and inhibitory transmission in area CA1 of rat hippocampal slices were investigated using extracellular and intracellular recording techniques. RESULTS: Application of atracurium in the perfusion medium resulted in a dose-dependent enhancement of excitatory synaptic responses averaging 48.7 +/- 4.3% at a concentration of 10 nM. This effect was correlated with an increase in the size of the presynaptic fiber volley. Laudanosine, but not pancuronium bromide or vecuronium bromide, produced similar changes. In addition, atracurium and laudanosine blocked inhibitory transmission and reduced intracellularly recorded gamma-aminobutyric acidA receptor-mediated potentials. These effects were observed only at concentrations >1 microM and were not reproduced by pancuronium bromide and vecuronium bromide. CONCLUSIONS: Atracurium and its metabolite, laudanosine, contrary to pancuronium bromide and vecuronium bromide, produce two distinct effects on hippocampal slices. They enhance excitatory transmission and neuronal excitability and they block inhibitory gamma-aminobutyric acidA-mediated synaptic responses.     

Solution- and crystal-phase covalent modification of lysozyme by a purpose-designed organoruthenium complex. A MALDI-TOF MS study of its metal binding sites

Study of the reaction between the transition organometallic complex 4-ruthenocenyl 2,6-dimethylpyrylium tetrafluoroborate and the enzyme hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) in solution and by diffusion in crystals was performed by use of a combination of spectroscopic and chromatographic methods. Conjugation involving the lysine residues of lysozyme appeared to occur readily, yielding very stable ruthenocenyl pyridinium adducts with average degrees of incorporation ranging from 0.2 to 1.8 metal complexes per protein molecule, depending on reaction conditions. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) revealed that the protein conjugates were in fact mixtures of unmodified, mono-, di- and sometimes tripyridinium adducts. In combination with reversed-phased HPLC, we were able to show that six different monoruthenocenyl pyridinium adducts were formed in solution. This result was confirmed by trypsin digestion of a ruthenocenyl pyridinium conjugate and MALDI-TOF MS analysis of the peptide mixture, which showed that lysines 1, 13, 33, 96, 97 and 116 were involved in the reaction with the pyrylium complex, lysines 13, 33 and 116 being the major binding sites. In the tetragonal crystal state, no binding of the ruthenium complex was shown to occur at lysine 116, owing to steric hindrance at this particular position.