Importance of a canteen lunch on the dietary intake of acrylamide

A food and drink intake survey was carried out among university students and staff members. Consumption data were collected on days when the participants took hot lunch in a university canteen. The dietary acrylamide exposure was calculated through a probabilistic approach and revealed a median intake of 0.40 microg/kg bw/day [90% confidence interval: 0.36-0.44], which is in accordance with previous exposure calculations. Biscuits (35.4%), French fries (29.9%), bread (23.5%), and chocolate (11.2%) were identified to be the main sources of dietary acrylamide. Foodstuffs consumed in between the three main meals of the day (so called snack type foods) contributed the most to the intake (42.2%). The exposure was lower in an intervention group which received free portions of fruit and vegetables, indicating that a nutritionally balanced diet may contribute to a decreased acrylamide intake. French fries had a significant impact on the acrylamide intake, due to the frequent consumption in the canteen. This demonstrates the important responsibility of caterers and canteen kitchens in the mitigation of acrylamide exposure through reduction of acrylamide in their prepared products, in particular in French fries.     

PSEN1 Compound Heterozygous Mutations Associated with Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy and Cognitive Decline Phenotype

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a cerebrovascular disorder caused by the deposition of amyloid beta-peptide (Aβ) aggregates. Aβ aggregates lead to vessel rupture and intracerebral hemorrhages, detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Presenile CAA is usually genetically determined by mutations in the amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene. However, mutations after codon 200 in the presenilin 1 (PSEN1) gene have been reported to facilitate CAA onset. Here, we analyzed the genetic bases in a patient of 55 years old affected by CAA and cognitive decline. DNA was isolated and genetic analysis was performed by Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). RNA was extracted and retro-transcribed to perform segregation analysis by TOPO-TA cloning. WB analysis was carried out to check the impact of the mutations on protein. Two compound heterozygous mutations in PSEN1 exon 10, such as a novel stop-gain mutation (c.1070C > G) and a pathogenic splice variant (c.1129A > T), were found by NGS. Both mutations altered the presenilin 1 protein, truncating its C-terminal portion. This is the first case of CAA and cognitive decline caused by two compound mutations in PSEN1. With this report, we suggest extending the genetic analysis to PSEN1 when cerebral microbleeds are observed by MRI investigation in a patient affected by presenile cognitive decline.     

Polypropylene–wood fiber composites: Effect of treatment and mixing conditions on mechanical properties

Polypropylene/wood fiber composites were prepared at three different temperatures: 170°C, 180°C, and 190°C. The surface of wood fibers was modified through the use of silane coupling agents and/or coating with polypropylene or maleated polypropylene. The fiber coating was performed by propylene polymerization in the presence of wood fibers or by immersion in an o-dichlorobenzene polypropylene (or maleated polypropylene) solution. Tensile and three-point bending tests were performed in order to evaluate the adhesion between matrix and wood fibers. Evidence shows that 180°C is the best mixing temperature, while the use of vinyl-tris (2-methoxy ethoxy) silane with or without maleated polypropylene coating is the best surface treatment. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 65:1227–1235, 1997     

A method for systematically pooling data in very early stage construction price forecasting

Client owners usually need an estimate or forecast of their likely building costs in advance of detailed design in order to confirm the financial feasibility of their projects. Because of their timing in the project life cycle, these early stage forecasts are characterized by the minimal amount of information available concerning the new (target) project to the point that often only its size and type are known. One approach is to use the mean contract sum of a sample, or base group, of previous projects of a similar type and size to the project for which the estimate is needed. Bernoulli’s law of large numbers implies that this base group should be as large as possible. However, increasing the size of the base group inevitably involves including projects that are less and less similar to the target project. Deciding on the optimal number of base group projects is known as the homogeneity or pooling problem. A method of solving the homogeneity problem is described involving the use of closed form equations to compare three different sampling arrangements of previous projects for their simulated forecasting ability by a cross-validation method, where a series of targets are extracted, with replacement, from the groups and compared with the mean value of the projects in the base groups. The procedure is then demonstrated with 450 Hong Kong projects (with different project types: Residential, Commercial centre, Car parking, Social community centre, School, Office, Hotel, Industrial, University and Hospital) clustered into base groups according to their type and size.     

Employee drug use, demographic characteristics, work reactions, and absenteeism.

Investigated the relationships between employee use of illicit drugs, perceptions of and reactions to the work environment, and employee absenteeism and tardiness above and beyond that accounted for by demographic and work reaction variables. 162 employees in a large work organization completed demographic and background information and assessments of work perceptions and reactions and absenteeism and tardiness. Drug use was assessed with a questionnaire and urine testing. Employee drug use accounted for additional statistically significant variance in overall absenteeism and in absenteeism due to injuries and suspensions, as well as days tardy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hemodynamic effects of the implantation of an intracaval oxygenator

Treatment of severe respiratory failure by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is complex. However, there is now an intravascular gas exchanger (IVOX) available that provides extrapulmonary gas transfer without requiring an extracorporeal blood path. The present study was performed to determine the hemodynamic effects resulting from the intracaval placement of the intravascular device. A bovine model (n = 6; body-weight = 72 +/- 5 kg) was selected for temporary lung support with the intravascular device. The latter was placed in the caval axis under fluoroscopic control after full instrumentation of the animal for hemodynamic measurements including a pulmonary artery catheter for determination of cardiac output by thermodilution and continuous readout of mixed venous oxygen saturation. All measurements were taken after a stabilization period of 15 min. The heart rate moved from 65 +/- 8 before to 72 +/- 10 after implantation and 68 +/- 9 after onset of intravascular gas exchange (NS). Right atrial pressure was 13 +/- 3 mm Hg before, 12 +/- 3 mm Hg after implantation and 10 +/- 3 mm Hg after onset (NS) whereas femoral venous pressure moved from 14 +/- 3 mm Hg to 17 +/- 4 mm Hg (p < 0.05) and remained at 17 +/- 4 mm Hg after onset. Cardiac output was 5.3 +/- 0.7 l/min before, 5.4 +/- 0.7 l/min after implantation and 5.3 +/- 1.1 l/min after onset (NS) while mixed venous oxygen saturation dropped from 60 +/- 7% to 54 +/- 11% and moved to 57 +/- 11 after onset of the device (NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Physical and mechanical properties of urea formaldehyde-bonded particleboard made from bamboo waste

Development of value-added products from any unutilized woody or non-woody material can play a vital role in economic development and also in forest resources conservation of any country. In this study, the suitabilities of planer waste and chips of Bambusa balcooa and Bambusa vulgaris, two locally grown bamboo species of Bangladesh, were investigated for the production of particleboard. The planer waste is a kind of shavings obtained during planing operation of bamboo splits for making rectangular strips of uniform thickness.Urea formaldehyde glue was used as a binder. Particleboards (12 mm thickness) were made from each type of the material applying 3.5 N/mm² pressure at 140 °C press temperature. The panels were tested to determine bending strength, modulus of elasticity, tensile strength, thickness swelling and water absorption.The variation in particle geometry of the raw materials significantly influenced the physical and mechanical properties of particleboard. The chips showed better strength properties compared to planer waste. B. vulgaris produced better and well glued particleboards compared to B. balcooa because of its superior gluability. The product could be used for indoor application especially as furniture component. Further research on the improvement in dimensional stabilization of product is needed.     

The effects of processing and packaging parameters on the occurrence of sulphide black in canned meat

The aim of this study was to evaluate the packaging and processing parameters that produce sulphide black in corned beef. Twenty experimental batches were prepared, and in order to evaluate the effect of the packaging manufacturing process, variations were introduced in the tin layer, in the cure of lacquer applied inside and in the presence or absence of superficial scratches in the lacquer. Processing parameters, such as sterilising time and temperature as well as filling temperatures, were evaluated. The visual evaluation carried out to check the occurrence of black spots and the statistical analysis of variance with 95% confidence interval showed that the lids that were produced with a greater total tin layer (5.6 g m^?2), with normal cure (200 °C) and without scratches had a lower occurrence of the problem. The analyses also showed that the use of filling temperatures lower than 40 °C decreased the presence of black spots.