Conversion of linoleic acid hydroperoxide by soybean lipoxygenase in the presence of guaiacol: Identification of the reaction products

Linoleic acid hydroperoxide formed by soybean lipoxygenase was metabolized by the same enzyme in the presence of guaiacol. The products of this reaction included trihydroxyoctadecenoic acids, hydroperoxydihydroxyoctadecenoic acids, hydroxyepoxyoctadecenoic acids, dihydroxyoctadecenoic acids, hydroxyoctadecadienoic acids, and oxooctadecadienoic acids.     

Clinical effects of supplemental enteral nutrition solution in severe polytrauma

A clinical, bacteriological, serological and patho-anatomical study was carried out on 12 goats surviving the acute stage of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP), experimentally produced with Mycoplasma capricolum ssp. capripneumoniae (M. capripneumoniae), with the major aims of investigating the chronic stage of the disease and elucidating the possibility of a carrier state beyond the acute fulminant phase. The goats were killed 9, 16, 82 or 126 days after the onset of acute clinical signs. On day 9, clinical signs included low grade fever and persistent coughing. Thereafter, only intermittent coughing was recorded. Serum titres of complement-fixing antibodies to M. capripneumoniae were high at the period of fever but dropped thereafter. Post-mortem examination showed acute fibrinous pleuropneumonia on days 9 and 16, and chronic pleuropneumonia on days 82 and 126, including sequester formations in goats killed on day 126. Mycoplasma capripneumoniae was isolated on days 9 and 16 but not on later occasions. The study showed that goats recovered from acute CCPP may have lesions for a long time thereafter but provide no evidence of a carrier state among long-term survivors.     

Microbiological studies investigating mutagenicity of deep frying fat fractions and some of their components

In this study, the Salmonella/microsome mutagenicity test according to Ames et al. (Mutation Res. 31∶347, 1975) was performed in order to detect possible mutagenicity of oxidized deep frying fat fractions. Furthermore, the mono-, di-, tri- and tetrahydroxyoctadecanoic acids and the hydroperoxide of linoleic acid were investigated as model test substances. The Ames assay was carried out with and without metabolic activation including preincubation and liquid culture procedures as described by Mitchell (Mutation Res. 54∶1, 1978). The results show no mutagenic effects for the oxidized fractions of deep frying fats nor for the model test substances. At higher concentrations, however, limited test reliability resulted from direct toxic effects on bacterial growth.     

The Hunt for Natural Skin Whitening Agents

Skin whitening products are commercially available for cosmetic purposes in order to obtain a lighter skin appearance. They are also utilized for clinical treatment of pigmentary disorders such as melasma or postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. Whitening agents act at various levels of melanin production in the skin. Many of them are known as competitive inhibitors of tyrosinase, the key enzyme in melanogenesis. Others inhibit the maturation of this enzyme or the transport of pigment granules (melanosomes) from melanocytes to surrounding keratinocytes. In this review we present an overview of (natural) whitening products that may decrease skin pigmentation by their interference with the pigmentary processes.     

A double-layered carbon nanotube array with super-hydrophobicity

The growth of double-layered vertical-aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays by a single step chemical vapor deposition is reported. The deactivation and reactivation of catalyst particles may be the cause of such a growth process. An interesting morphology difference between the top and the bottom CNT layers was observed. In contrast to the smooth surface of the top CNT layer, the surface of the bottom layer shows hierarchical structures. The surface structures of the bottom CNT layer allow this surface to exhibit super-hydrophobic properties and excellent self-cleaning abilities.     

Sport Stadia, Sporting Events and Urban Development: International Experience and the Ambitions of Durban

The paper considers the stadium construction and infrastructure projects underway for World Cup 2010. We ask whether and under which conditions hosting such an event (along with the new facilities and infrastructural development required) will have positive effects on urban development. By analysing the stadium project in Durban, the paper also presents evidence on whether such positive effects may be enhanced by the attempt to create an image effect by seeking outstanding architectural quality of the new stadia.