Pneumoperitoneum without peritonitis after allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation

Allogeneic blood stem cell transplantation is associated with multiple complications. We report a case of pneumoperitoneum without peritonitis associated with colonic pneumatosis in a patient who had undergone an allogeneic peripheral blood cell transplant     

Hybrid cam mechanisms

This paper investigates the problem of driving a machine with several reciprocating heavy inertias. The drive should also realize some programmable flexibility of the motion, so that the operation of the machine, e,g., synchronization between different motions and duration of standstills, can easily be modified. The use of a single servomotor for every motion is not the best solution, since it does not allow for energy recuperation. This means that the installed servomotor power will be much higher than the required net peak power for the machine as a whole. The presented solution, however, reduces the servomotor peak torque and power by one order of magnitude, and makes energy transfer between the motions possible. The hybrid cam mechanism consists of a hybrid drive, which is a combination of a servomotor, a constant velocity motor and a cam follower mechanism. The operation principle exploits the nonlinear characteristics of the cam to add flexibility at low cost of energy. The hybrid solution is particularly successful for motions involving high peak acceleration. In addition, the concept can be used to reject disturbances. Simulations show the performance of the hybrid cam mechanism.     

Tri-Reforming of Methane over NdM0.25Ni0.75O3 (M = Cr,Fe) Catalysts and the Effect of CO2 Composition

Catalysis Letters - The NdM0.25Ni0.75O3 (M?=?Cr, Fe) named NCN and NFN catalysts precursors were synthesized and characterized. The CO2 utilization in the feed was studied in the...     

Selective hydrogenation of soybean oil in the presence of copper catalysts

Many investigators associate the poor keeping properties of soybean oil with its linolenic acid content. On the other hand the high linoleic acid content is a desired property from a nutritional point of view. We have therefore developed a process for the preferential reduction of the linolenic acid content by selective hydrogenation. Conventional catalysts for the hydrogenation of fats have a rather low selectivity in this respect. When linolenic acid in soybean oil is hardened (e.g., with a nickel catalyst), most of the linoleic acid is converted into less unsaturated acids. It was found that linolenic acid is hydrogenated much more preferentially in the presence of copper catalysts than in that of nickel and other hydrogenation catalysts. At a linolenic acid content of 2%, soybean oil hardened with nickel catalyst contained about 28% linoleic acid, whereas with copper catalyst the hardened soybean oil contained 49% linoleic acid. By means of our process it is possible to manufacture a good keepable oil of, e.g., I.V. 115 and containing 1% linolenic acid and 46% linoleic acid. The storage stability of this product is comparable with that of sunflower-seed oil. A liquid phase yield of 86% is obtained after winterization at 5C for 18 hr. The high selectivity for linolenate reduction of copper catalysts must be ascribed to the copper part of the catalyst. Investigations into the structure of the catalyst indicate that the active center consists of copper metal crystallites; whether these centers are promoted by the carrier or traces of other substances is under investigation.     

Hepatic damage produced by long-term alcohol consumption in well-nourished rats

A study of the effect of long-term alcohol consumption on the liver of well-nourished rats is described. Rats fed for 16 weeks on a semipurified diet supplemented with high levels of vitamins and lipotropic factors and alcohol corresponding to 35% of the total caloric intake developed marked fatty changes of the liver. Mild fatty changes were observed in pair-fed controls receiving as isoenergetic equivalent of sucrose instead of alcohol. Intracellular hyaline bodies, corresponding ultrastructurally to giant mitochondria were abundantly found in the hepatocytes of alcoholic rats, while in the controls they were not seen. Te findings in this investigation are postulated to provide further evidence that the long-term intake of alcohol exerts a direct causative role in the pathogenesis of liver damage.     

Biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids in the diatomPhaeodactylum tricornutum

The biosynthesis of fatty acids in the diatomPhaeodactylum tricornutum was studied. The diatom was incubated with sodium [1¹⁴C] acetate and the acids [1-¹⁴C] palmitic, [1-¹⁴C] stearic, [1-¹⁴C] linoleic and [1-¹⁴C] α-linolenic. The distribution of radioactivity in the products was determined by gas liquid radiochromatography. The diatom synthesized “de novo” not only saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, but also linoleic, α-linolenic and other fatty acids including the highly polyunsaturated 20∶5ω3 and 22∶6ω3. When labeled acetate, stearic, α-linolenic or even linoleic acid were incubated with the diatom, the polyunsaturated C₂₀ fatty acids synthesized belonged predominantly to the ω 3 family. The existence of Δ9, Δ6, Δ5, Δ4, ω6 and possibly ω3 desaturases inP. tricornutum is suggested. Member of the Carrera del Investigador Científico of the Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Member of the Carrera del Investigador Cientifico of the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas.     

Functional properties of a protein product from Caryodendron orinocense (Barinas nut)

The functional properties of Caryodendron orinocense protein product were investigated and compared with those of soybean (Glycina maxima). The product protein content was 24.47 g/100 g (Nx6.25). Solubility increased at both sides of the isoelectric point (pH 4.0) and with increased NaCl concentration up to 0.5M. Compared with soybean flour (50% protein), the protein product exhibited higher water and oil absorption, but lower emulsifying activity, emulsion stability, foaming capacity, and foam stability, the last one increase at higher pH. Emulsifying activity, foaming capacity, and foam stability were ionic strength dependent. C. orinocense protein product increased its emulsifying activity steadily from 0.05M to 0.75M NaCl, while it remained almost constant for soybean flour. Foaming capacity increased drastically at pH 10. The minimum time and concentration to form a gel was 20% in 4 min and 10% in 8 min for the Caryodendron protein product and soybean flour, respectively. The bulk density was 0.5056+/-0.0041 g/mL.     

A Complete and Highly Effective Mothproofing Agent Comprising a Pyrethroid and a Hexahydropyrimidine

Pyrethroids, considered as a general class of compounds, have been shown to provide effective protection from the larvae of the keratin-digesting insects Tineola bisselliella H., Tinea pellionella Linn., Hofmannophila pseudo-spretella Station and Attagenus piceus Oliv. The position regarding the susceptibility of the furniture carpet beetle to pyrethroids is less clear, however. It has been reported that both deltamethrin and permethrin are effective against Anthrenus flavipes Le Conte, whilst permethrin is also reported elsewhere to be effective against the same species. Results obtained in our laboratory, however, have indicated that pyrethroids may offer inadequate protection against Anthrenus vorax Waterh. [1, 2]. This latter species is identical to Anthrenus flavipes var. seminiveus Casey, a colour variety of Anthrenus flavipes Le Conte. The 1,3-disubstituted5-phenylcarbamoyl-2,4,6-trioxo- and 4,6-dioxo-2-thione-hexahydropyrimidine derivatives described in this paper exhibit a surprisingly high and selective toxicity to the Anthrenus species. Thus, a combination of an appropriate hexahydropyrimidine with a suitable pyrethroid, e.g. permethrin, provides complete control of a wide range of commonly encountered textile insect pests. The influence of substituents on the mothproofing activity is discussed.