Development of a method employing reversed‐phase thin‐layer chromatography for establishing milk fat purity with respect to adulteration with vegetable oils

A systematic study was conducted using reversed‐phase thin‐layer chromatography wherein unsaponifiable matter of samples namely, pure cow and buffalo milk fats, vegetable oils (groundnut oil, soya bean oil and sunflower oil) and milk fats adulterated with vegetable oils (≥1%) were run along with the reference standards using two new solvent systems to detect adulteration in milk fat. The results of the study revealed that adulteration at even a 1% level could easily be detected using this rapid, reliable and reproducible method based on the presence of β‐sitosterol as a marker and some additional spots ascribable to their occurrence in vegetable oils only.     

Role of estrogen in induction of penile dysmorphogenesis: a review

In this review, we report permanent dysmorphogenesis of the penis and loss of fertility in adult rats treated neonatally with estrogen. Specifically, we report replacement of smooth muscle cells and cavernous spaces by fat cells in the corpus cavernosum penis, but not in the adjoining corpus spongiosum. Induction of these novel, region-specific phenotypes is dose-dependent, requires a critical window of exposure and associated with decreased testosterone and up-regulation of estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha). The resistance of ER alpha knockout mice to develop these abnormalities implies an unequivocal role for ER alpha in mediating maldevelopment of the penis. Additionally, the prevention of estrogen-inducible penile abnormalities by ER antagonist ICI 182 780 implies that a functional ER-mediated pathway is essential for inducing penile abnormalities. Likewise, the ability of testosterone or dihydrotestosterone to negate these abnormalities suggests a role for an androgen receptor (AR)-mediated pathway. Taken together, these observations led us to hypothesize that neonatal estrogen exposure, via an ER-mediated pathway (direct action) or an AR-mediated pathway (indirect action through decreased testosterone) or both pathways, up-regulates ER alpha expression in stromal cells of the penis, which are then reprogrammed such that their differentiation into smooth muscle cells is inhibited and their differentiation into adipocytes is stimulated.     

Preparation of YBCO Films on CeO2-Buffered (001) YSZ Substrates by a Non-Fluorine MOD Method

YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ (YBCO) films were fabricated via a fluorine-free metal organic deposition (MOD) method followed by high-temperature, low oxygen partial pressure annealing. Trimethyl acetate salts of copper, yttrium, and barium hydroxide were used as the precursors, which were dissolved in proponic acid- and amine-based solvents. After spin-coating and burnout, samples were annealed at 740°C in 180 ppm oxygen partial pressure and exposed to humid atmosphere for different times. A critical transition temperature, T _c( R =0) of 90.2 K and a transport critical current density ( J _c) of 0.55 MA/cm² (77 K and self-field) were obtained for 0.2 μm YBCO films on CeO₂-buffered yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) substrates. X-ray studies shows that the YBCO films have sharp in-plane and out-of-plane texture for all samples; however, the porosity of the YBCO film varies with the time of exposure to the humid atmosphere. A reaction between YBCO and CeO₂ during the high-temperature anneals and formation of the reaction product BaCeO₃ was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The XRD and transmission electron microscopy analysis indicated that the epitaxial relations in the film were YBCO (00 l )//CeO₂ (00 l )//YSZ (00 l ) and YBCO [100]//CeO₂ [110]//YSZ [110].     

Architectural considerations for next-generation file systems

Integration – supporting multiple application classes with heterogeneous performance requirements – is an emerging trend in networks, file systems, and operating systems. We evaluate two architectural alternatives – partitioned and integrated – for designing next-generation file systems. Whereas a partitioned server employs a separate file system for each application class, an integrated file server multiplexes its resources among all application classes; we evaluate the performance of the two architectures with respect to sharing of disk bandwidth among the application classes. We show that although the problem of sharing disk bandwidth in integrated file systems is conceptually similar to that of sharing network link bandwidth in integrated services networks, the arguments that demonstrate the superiority of integrated services networks over separate networks are not applicable to file systems. Furthermore, we show that: an integrated server outperforms the partitioned server in a large operating region and has slightly worse performance in the remaining region; the capacity of an integrated server is larger than that of the partitioned server; and an integrated server outperforms the partitioned server by a factor of up to 6 in the presence of bursty workloads.     

Some relationships between skills in word-category recall and factors in adults' aphasia

It has long been recognized that a basic dimension to the lexical organization of the brain is semantic, and some brain mapping studies have indicated that the brain fields are distinctly different from some grammatical classes. Findings from the present investigation showed consistent relationships between 29 aphasic adults' performances on tasks involving graphic and gestural skills and those involving sequential recall of spoken words from different word categories. Each adult received the Porch Index of Communication Abilities which relies upon the physical manipulation of objects to assess verbal, gestural, and graphic abilities. Scores on a test requiring recall of word strings of nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, or prepositions were used to predict the subscale scores from the Graphic and Gestural factors of the index. Recall scores for verb and preposition were predictive of the aphasic subjects' performances on the Graphic subscale, and noun and preposition scores were predictors of subjects' scores on the Gestural subscale. The results are related to other research showing that verb and preposition skills are predictive of fine motor abilities of children with communication disorders and brain-mapping studies. Some discussion centers on possible overlapping functions of brain activity involving word categories, language, and fine motor skills.     

Radiation-induced enhanced proliferation of human squamous cancer cells in vitro: a release from inhibition by epidermal growth factor

Ionizing radiation is believed to stimulate the repopulation of squamous carcinoma cells that survive the early portion of a fractionated course of radiotherapy. To characterize any intrinsic radiation-induced adaptive response and to examine whether epidermal growth factor (EGF) influences this response, A431 and 183A cells were irradiated with repeated daily exposures of 0.5-0.75 Gy and then grown in monolayer culture for 7 days with or without EGF at a 1 ng/ml concentration. Cell numbers were quantified using a microtiter dye-reduction assay. EGF alone caused approximately 70% and 30% growth inhibition of human SC A431 and 183A cells, respectively. Although radiation alone did not affect proliferative rates in these conditions, radiation eliminated the EGF-related growth inhibition in both cell lines. This effect was dose dependent in single radiation exposure experiments. Cell cycle analyses indicated that EGF initially promoted entry into S-phase 3 days after treatment but caused a G1-S block after 7 days. Treatment with radiation recruited cells into S-phase and G2-M, an effect which was sustained 7 days after treatment, overriding the influence of EGF. Radiation-induced modulation of the response of human squamous carcinoma cells to EGF in vitro after single and repeated radiation exposures suggests a proliferation response that may underlie enhanced repopulation of tumor clonogens in vivo.     

Diabetic ketoacidosis and rhabdomyolysis following excessive intake of a weight reducing diet

We describe two unusual cases in sheep of subclinical mastitis caused by Streptococcus parasanguinis. This bacterium has been associated with the development of experimental endocarditis; its presence at relatively high concentrations in apparently healthy sheep milk may pose a health risk in persons with predisposing heart lesions.