Effect of a supplement rich in alkaline minerals on acid-base balance in humans

Background  

Western diets are considered acidogenic due to the high dietary acid load and a low intake of base-forming dietary minerals such as potassium, magnesium or calcium. In the present study we investigated the effect of a multimineral supplement (MMS) rich in alkaline minerals on acute and chronic regulation of acid-base balance with the pH of blood, urine and saliva as potential surrogate markers.     

Verwendung von Kartoffelpülpe und Kartoffelfruchtwasser als Nährmedium zur Anzucht von Laccase produzierenden Pilzen

Utilization of Potato Pulp and Potato Liquor for the Production of Laccase by Selected Basidiomycetes. Potato processing wastes were used for the production of enzyme laccase (polyphenol oxidase) by selected strains of Trametes villosa, T. versicolor and Polyporus brumalis. They were capable of utilizing these wastes as the sole carbon and nitrogen source. Maximum activities of laccase was obtained with the optimized mixtures of 5% potato pulp and 4% of potato liquor. Several basidiomycetes strains, when grown on potato wastes, can synthetize alpha-amylase (e.g. Trametes villosa). The amino acids and trace elements in pulp and liquor were analysed. Asparagine and aspartic acid are the main constitutents of amino acid fraction of the potato liquor under the test. Cultivation of Trametes villosa on potatostarch processing wastes can be used for the inexpensive production of valuable fungal enzymes.     

Distribution des combretums en rapport avec l’aridité au Cameroun

Dans la perspective de recherche des indicateurs biologiques susceptibles d’interpréter les changements des conditions d’un milieu, une étude, sur la distribution des combretums, a été effectuée dans les provinces administratives de l’Est, Adamaoua et extrême nord du Cameroun; suivant le gradient d’aridité croissant. A l’issus des prospections de terrain, il ressort que la diversité des combretums le long du gradient climatique Est–extrême nord est très perceptible. D’une manière générale, la densité de ces espèces croit au fur et à mesure que l’on va des régions humides aux régions plus sèches. Toutefois, une étude plus fine se doit d’être menée pour confirmer les résultats de ce travail.

Mots clés: Combretum; Distribution; Aridité; Cameroun

In order to determine the biological indicator which can permit understanding of environmental changes, a study was carried out on combretum distribution in the administrative provinces of East, Adamawa and Extreme‐North, in Cameroon, along a gradient of increasing aridity. After field exploration, it appears that there is combretum diversity along the East–Extreme north climatic gradient. In general, the species density increases also from the humid to the driest zone. There is a need for further research to confirm this trend.     

Comparative study on nutrient and anti‐nutrient changes in Ikivunde and Inyange,two Burundian traditionally processed cassava products

A comparative study on nutrients and anti‐nutrients in Ikivunde and Inyange and a correlation of nutrients and anti‐nutrients with fermentation time during processing of both products were carried out. In Ikivunde, all nutrients and anti‐nutrients had high negative correlations with fermentation time, except for crude fibre, fats and calcium, which showed high positive correlations. In Inyange, all nutrients and anti‐nutrients were positively correlated with fermentation time, except for starch, ash, zinc, magnesium, calcium, glutamine and alanine. Analysis of variance showed that Ikivunde and Inyange differed significantly (P < 0.05) in reducing sugar, protein, ash, cyanide, phytic acid and tannin contents at various fermentation times. There were also significant differences (P < 0.05) between Ikivunde and Inyange in starch and fat contents at 48, 72, 96 and 120 h, while for crude fibre a significant difference was observed from 72 h until the end of fermentation. At the end of the fermentation period (120 h), Inyange had higher starch, protein, amino acid, reducing sugar, ash, iron, zinc, potassium, sodium, magnesium, fat, cyanide, phytic acid and tannin contents but lower crude fibre and calcium contents than Ikivunde. The results from this study showed that Inyange contains more nutrients and anti‐nutrients than Ikivunde. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Zukunftssichere und umweltneutrale Beseitigung von Industrieabfällen

Low environmental-impact disposal of solid, liquid and semisolid industrial residues . In many production plants, waste residues are formed which must be treated before their disposal so as to safeguard against environmental pollution. Industrial methods for the treatment and disposal of residues are so multifarious that each disposal problem requires careful consideration so as to ensure selection of the most suitable method, both from the ecological and economical point of view. Dumping grounds cannot accommodate all waste materials without endangering or disturbing the environment. For incineration, proven methods are available which can be modified to suit the particular waste problem at hand. After a suitable pretreatment every effort must be made to achieve a waste free from organic materials, an optimum utilization of heat and a flue gas purification without inadmissible loading of waste gases and waters. In recent years there has been a considerable increase in research and development activities in the area of thermal treatment of solid, liquid and semi-solid wastes. Worth mentioning are the high-temperature methods giving favourable emission values and methods for degasification and gasification directed at the recovery of important raw materials. Plants based on these principles are currently being operated on the pilot scale.     

A model of multi-purpose shopping trip behavior

Existing utility-based models of complex choice behavior do not adequately deal with the interdependencies of chained choices. In this paper, we introduce a model of multi-purpose shopping which is aimed at overcoming this shortcoming. In the proposed model, dependencies between choices within as well as between trips are covered by a recursive definition of trip utility. The standard log-likelihood estimation procedure is used to calibrate the model. Simulation experiments show that estimation results are satisfactorily accurate and robust. Comparison of the model to a conventional choice model using simulated data indicates that even low tendencies to make multi-purpose trips have a significant influence on predicted destination choice. Furthermore, it is shown that conventional models do not satisfactorily predict simulated multi-purpose behavior.