Separation and determination of trace amounts of bacteriostats using a continuous distillation extraction apparatus

Methodology is described for the determination of very low levels (⩽ 100 ng/ml) of triclocarban and triclosan in blood. The technique involves the use of a special continuous distillation extraction apparatus for separating these bacteriostats from blood in a relatively selective and automatic manner. In this procedure the triclosan distills intact, while the triclocarban is hydrolyzed, and the hydrolysis products are distilled and extracted. In addition to describing the apparatus, data are presented on the completeness of the extraction procedure and recoveries from fortified blood samples. Final measurements of the bacteriostats are accomplished by electron capture gas chromatography following appropriate derivative formation to enhance detection sensitivity.     

Dry-pasteurization of egg albumen powder in a fluidized bed. II. Effect on functional properties: gelation and foaming

Dry‐pasteurization of egg albumen (EA) powder in a fluidized bed was studied in two experiments. Experiment 1 consisted of two different temperatures (90 and 130 °C) and experiment 2 of two air moisture levels (high and low). Powders were processed from 10 min to 3 h. The reference treatment was traditional pasteurization at 90 °C for 21 h. The fluidized bed treatment effects on gel texture, water‐holding capacity (WHC), protein binding, gel colour, foaming capacity, foam stability and surface pressure were evaluated. Gels of EA powders treated at high temperature and high air moisture levels exhibited higher stress, strain and WHC values than gels of untreated EA powder. The gel colour became significantly darker, greener and less yellow by fluidized bed treatment. Foaming and surface activity properties were un‐affected by the treatments, however, foam stability against liquid drainage correlated positively with surface pressure.     

Extracellular and intracellular volume variations during postural change measured by segmental and wrist-ankle bioimpedance spectroscopy

Extracellular (ECW) and intracellular (ICW) volumes were measured using both segmental and wrist-ankle (W-A) bioimpedance spectroscopy (5-1000 kHz) in 15 healthy subjects (7 men, 8 women). In the 1st protocol, the subject, after sitting for 30 min, laid supine for at least 30 min. In the second protocol, the subject, who had been supine for 1 hr, sat up in bed for 10 min and returned to supine position for another hour. Segmental ECW and ICW resistances of legs, arms and trunk were measured by placing four voltage electrodes on wrist, shoulder, top of thigh and ankle and using Hanai's conductivity theory. W-A resistances were found to be very close to the sum of segmental resistances. When switching from sitting to supine (protocol 1), the mean ECW leg resistance increased by 18.2%, that of arm and W-A by 12.4%. Trunk resistance also increased but not significantly by 4.8%. Corresponding increases in ICW resistance were smaller for legs (3.7%) and arm (-0.7%) but larger for the trunk (21.4%). Total body ECW volumes from segmental measurements were in good agreement with W-A and Watson anthropomorphic correlation. The decrease in total ECW volume (when supine) calculated from segmental resistances was at 0.79 l less than the W-A one (1.12 l). Total ICW volume reductions were 3.4% (segmental) and 3.8% (W-A). Tests of protocol 2 confirmed that resistance and fluid volume values were not affected by a temporary position change.     

Hydraulic Considerations in Geosynthetic and Aggregate Subsurface Drains

The hydraulic design of certain types of subsurface drains has recently been put on a more rational footing, and deficiencies in earlier design methods have been demonstrated. However, significant limitations remain in hydraulic design methods for geosynthetic and aggregate subsurface drains. It is important to decouple the groundwater hydrology from the internal hydraulics of the drain, and properly design subsurface drains for open-channel rather than pressurized conditions. Present design methods can inadvertently result in pressurized flow. The assumption of uniform flow (Manning’s equation alone) is also improperly made in some present design methods. Consequences can include unintended pressurized flow and attendant nonuniformity of inflow on the one hand and uneconomical design on the other. Current standard guidelines provide relatively little guidance for the design of geosynthetic and aggregate drains. A current ASTM standard, commonly referenced by geosynthetic manufacturers, has significant limitations. Deficiencies and qualifications are identified for present design methods. Guidance is given for the improved design of geosynthetic and aggregate subsurface drains based on sound hydraulic principles.     

Prediction of Temperature Profiles in Tumors and Surrounding Normal Tissues During Magnetic Induction Heating

The development and preliminary verification of a simple two-compartment model describing the thermal response of adjacent normal and cancerous tissues subjected to magnetic induction heating is presented. Analytical expressions were found for estimating the spatial temperature distributions in the system composed of a spherical tumor mass imbedded in a cylindrical normal tissue as a function of the field intensity and the tissue's physical, geometrical, and physiological characteristics. The conditions leading to preferential heating of the tumor are described.     

Melting behavior of polypropylene fibers studied by differential scanning calorimetry

Polypropylene fibers produced in a compact-spinning process were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). With unrestrained fibers, the onset of melting increases with decreasing draw ratio, increasing M_w/M_n, decreasing extrusion temperature, increasing annealing ratio, and increasing draw-down ratio. These trends are discussed in terms of restraints and reorganization. The onset of melting is shifted to lower temperatures as the heating rate increases for all combinations of material and processing parameters, indicating suppressed reorganization. At low draw ratios, the height and width of the endotherm are affected by the spinline stress, and a secondary peak or shoulder is observed on the high temperature side of the main peak. The magnitude of the secondary peak increases with decreasing M_w/M_n, increasing draw ratio, decreasing draw-down ratio, and decreasing heating rate, but its position mainly depends on the heating rate. This indicates that the secondary peak may be due to the melting of structures that have been reorganized during the heating scan. As the draw ratio increases, the melting regime broadens, especially towards lower temperatures, and several maxima emerge on the DSC curve. Reorganization and shrinkage during heating may explain these observations. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Krank oder behindert? Die Bedeutung tradierter Begriffssysteme und deren Anwendung f��r komplexe Syndrome

Definition of the problem This essay examines the relationship between the concept of disease and disability, thereby using the example of attention disorders. It takes as a point of departure Kleinman??s differentiation of disease, illness, and sickness and the distinction of disease and disability by the World Health Organization. The author suggests considering whether and how Kleinman??s differentiation of disease could be adapted to the concept of disability and in which way a modification could be useful for the understanding of concrete syndromes. Arguments Even though the WHO distinguishes disability and disease by means of classification since 1980, it is still not clearly determined either what chronic illnesses and psychological or cognitive syndromes are or whether they could be classified as disease by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) or as disability by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF). Contrary to the ICD, the ICF allows for syndromes to be categorized in more detail. Conclusion Attention disorders and several cognitive abilities can be evaluated interdisciplinary, if not only their physical and psychological components but also their individual and societal components are considered. The professional and the personal perspective of the syndromes should be correlated. A clear conceptualized distinction between disease and disability is not possible.