Authors'' reply

A limitation of the model order selection criterion as proposed in the above correspondence is pointed out. It is shown that the results obtained from the criterion are not generally unique and acceptable.     

Marginal operation field of existing MSF distillation plants

The capability of existing MSF distillation desalination plants to increase or decrease production by increase or decrease of top brine temperature and brine recirculating flow rate, is technologically limited. The factors which limit the process were analyzed and compared in a practical test carried out on a 4546 m³/d production plant. The brine levels in evaporator stages were calculated and measured to avoid the vapour blowthrough between the stages and to insure the dynamic stability of the plant. There was an increase of 20% in production at 94% of the design brine flow rate, and a top brine temperature 16.6°C greater than the design value before reaching the unsealing limit.     

Berberine: A naturally occurring phototoxic alkaloid

The isoquinoline alkaloid berberine, present in nine different plant families was found to be phototoxic to mosquito larvae. In the presence of near UV the LC₅₀ for acute 24-hr toxicity was 8.8 ppm compared to 250 ppm for dark controls. Mosquito larvae that were treated with 10 ppm berberine plus near UV for 24 hr and then transferred to berberine-free water showed decreased larval survival and resulted in a smaller cumulative number of pupae and adults as compared to controls, during a subsequent 4-week development period. Berberine was found to be a singlet O₂ generator in experiments with the chemical trap 2,5-dimethyl furan. A slight increase in chromosome aberrations in Chinese hamster cells was also observed with berberine plus near UV treatment. The significance of the phototoxicity of berberine is discussed in relation to plant-insect relations.     

Phosphatidyl ethanolamine as a synergist for primary antioxidants in edible oils

Dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl ethanolamine (DPE) is a potent synergist for a wide range of primary antioxidants in edible oils at elevated temperature, i.e., above 80 C. At lower temperatures it has very little synergistic action. At 120 C the synergistic effect increases progressively as the concentration of synergist increases from 0.025% to 0.25%. At a given level of synergist, its effect is proportionately greater at low rather than high levels of primary antioxidant.     

Cottonseed colour fixed pigments. Part III. Prevention of colour fixation and removal of colour-fixed pigments

Gossypol-oil solution and colour-fixed oil prepared therefrom are treated with ethanolamine, p-aminobenzoic acid, urea, and acetic acid. The efficiency of the four additives in removal of gossypol and colour fixed pigments is examined. Ethanolamine and p-aminobenzoic acid at 0.5 and 1.0% levels of the oil weight result in complete removal of gossypol and superior oil-colour. The treated oils do not show any sign of colour reversion when subjected to conditions of accelerated storage.     

基于同伦迭代算法的弱耦合梁的损伤识别

本文应用有限元方法将多跨连续梁结构简化为弱耦合的欧拉－伯努利梁模型,利用Newmark积分法直接积分法求出系统在外激励作用下的动态响应。在结构的损伤识别过程中以结构抗弯刚度的减少作为损伤识别参数进行损伤识别,通过最小二乘法来构造同伦方程。该方法的收敛不依赖于初始值的选择,并且可以对具有重频的多跨结构进行准确识别。讨论了模拟人工测量噪声对损伤识别结果的影响。数值模拟算例表明本方法能够快速有效地检测出弱耦合梁的局部损伤,并具有精度高,对测量噪声不敏感等特点。     

Production of acetoin and diacetyl by lactic acid bacteria in skimmed milk with added citrate and pyruvate

Summary Thirty-two strains of starter cultures and lactic acid bacteria belonging to the genera Streptococcus, Leuconostoc and Lactobacillus were studied for their ability to produce acetoin (A) and diacetyl (D) from citrate and pyruvate added separately to skim milk and from pyruvate added to peptone-yeast extract-glucose broth (PYG).The largest amount of A + D was produced from citrate and by the citrate fermenters Streptococcus cremoris AM₂, Str. faecalis, Leuconostoc citrovorum ATCC 8082, L. Gasei ATCC 393, L. Gasei ssp. alactosus and L. xylosus. Some strains of Str. cremoris, Str. thermophilus, some strains of L. Gasei, L. plantarum and L. coryniformis on the contrary produced more A + D from pyruvate than from citrate. Str. cremoris AM₂ should be designated as Str. diaceticremoris like Str. diacetilactis.PYG was more favourable than skim milk for production of A + D from pyruvate by Str. lactis, some strains of Str. cremoris, Str. faecalis and lactobacilli. Pyruvate as a sole source of carbon gave a poor yield of A + D compared to itself in the presence of glucose in case of most of the streptococci and all of the lactobacilli.The largest amount of diacetyl was produced by 70% of the streptococci from citrate added to skim milk, and by the great most of the lactobacilli from pyruvate in PYG medium.

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Produktion von Acetoin durch Milchsäurebakterien in mit Zitrat und Pyruvat angereicherter Magermilch

Zusammenfassung Insgesamt 32 Säureweckerkulturen der Gattungen Streptococcus, Leuconostoc und Lactobacillus wurden unter Verwendung unterschiedlicher Nährsubstrate auf die Bildung von Acetoin und Diacetyl untersucht. Es zeigte sich, daß je nach Nährbodenzusammensetzung und Bakterienstamm unterschiedliche Mengen der genannten Aromastoffe gebildet wurden.

     

Selenium content of breast milk

Selenium levels in human milk in the winter period ranged from 5.3 μg/l to 23.8 μg/l, the mean value being 11.0 μg/l. The nursing women were divided into several groups according to the results of a questionnaire, i.e. according to their social status (refugees or otherwise), number of deliveries, post partum days, the weight they had gained during pregnancy, their age and smoking habits. The mean levels of selenium for each group are presented. Selenium was determined by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry.