The effect of sowing date and growth stage on the essential oil composition of three types of parsley (Petroselinum crispum)

Essential oils obtained by simultaneous distillation–extraction (SDE) from leaves, petioles and roots of three types of parsley (turnip‐rooted, plain leaf and curly leaf type), sown on three different dates, were analysed by GC‐MS (gas chromatography–mass spectrometry) analysis. Parsley plants were found to produce mainly β‐phellandrene, 1,3,8‐p‐menthatriene, α‐,p‐dimethylstyrene, myristicin, β‐myrcene and apiole. In some cases α‐ and β‐pinene were also found, whereas β‐elemene was detected, especially in the curly leaf type. The growth stage, plant tissue and date of sowing, as well as the climate conditions, all had a significant effect on the essential oil composition by altering the ratio of the above substances. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Resistance of Vigna unguiculata (cowpea) seeds to Callosobruchus maculatus is restricted to cotyledonary tissues

We have investigated the survival of Callosobruchus maculatus larvae when reared on resistant IT81D 1045 Vigna unguiculata seeds, whose resistance has been associated with variant forms of vicilins. Here, we present data which show that larvae of C. maculatus feeding on embryonic axis of resistant cowpea reach a mass of around 28 times higher than those feeding on cotyledonary tissues. Additionally, incorporation of 5–10% of embryonic axis flour on artificial seeds made of resistant flour restores toxicity of seeds to the bruchid. Vicilins purified from both susceptible and resistant embryonic axis had no deleterious effects either on insect development or on insect survival until a level of 4% of incorporation. In contrast, vicilins from resistant cotyledons show an LD₅₀ (50% lethal dose) and WD₅₀ (half weight dose) of 2%. Total vicilin contents of embryonic axes were around two times lower than in cotyledonary tissues, while proteolytic activities of all four proteinase classes were always higher in the former tissues. By 2D‐PAGE we visualized eight protein spots, which seem to be exclusively found on resistant cotyledons. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Managing a deteriorating process in a batch production environment

When manufacturing processes have a tendency to deteriorate over time and begin producing defective products, there is always a trade-off between the cost and/or rework time that is associated with such defectives and the amount of time that is spent inspecting and restoring the process. Although a considerable amount of attention has been devoted to this trade-off as it is found in high-volume, repetitive manufacturing, we study it in a job shop environment. In particular, we study the way in which inter-job setups affect the inspection policy. After modeling the problem as one of maximizing the throughput of defective-free jobs, we describe a simple algorithm which identifies optimal inspection intervals.     

Incidence of Toxoplasma and Toxocara antibodies among out-patients in the Ophthalmic Research Institute, Egypt

Infection by Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara canis is getting much important nowadays. Both are soil transmitted infections. The present study was planned to detect the incidence of T. gondii and T. canis antibodies among 100 patients attending the outpatient clinics in Research Institutes of Ophthalmology (RIO), whose urine and stool were free from other parasitic stages. Patients were classified into two groups, group I; (70 ocular cases) and group II, (30 non-occular cases). Control group (group III); 30 healthy persons. Sera from all individuals were subjected to IFAT and IHAT to detect Toxoplasma antibodies and IFAT to detect Toxocara antibodies. By using IFAT for Toxoplasma revealed, 25% as a total incidence, 21.4% in group I, 33.3% in group II and 6.6% in group III. While IHAT revealed 51% as a total incidence, 51.4% in group I, 50% in group II and 23.3% in group III. Among group I, retinochoroiditis cases showed the highest incidence and titre. While hydrocephalic cases showed highest incidence and titre in group II. T. canis antibodies revealed 23% as a total incidence, 14.3% in group I, 43.3% in group II and 5% in group III. Cases presented with retinal detachment showed the highest incidence and titre in group I while in group II hepatomegalic cases gave the highest incidence and titre. Concomitant infection of both Toxoplasma and Toxocara was detected in 8% of positive cases.