Comparative characteristics of the effect of benzylpenicillin on the biosynthesis of postvaccinal antibodies after oral and intramuscular administration

A technique is described for the preparation of intact colonies of Dermatophilus and their study under the scanning electron microscope. Using this technique with 38 strains of the organism it is possible to describe for the first time the patterns of colony morphology and to study the relationship of hyphae, cocci and zoospores in situ. Colonies were found to possess both vegetative and aerial hyphae. The various patterns of mycelial activity and structure that were seen raised serious doubts about the previous concepts of the mode of propagation and thus the classification of Dermatophilus within the Actinomycetales.     

Some biological factors affecting survival, with particular relation to farm animals

Non-infectious hemagglutinating particles of rabies virus accumulated in the fluid phase of chick embryo cell cultures at 6 days post-infection, though they were undetectable at 4 days. They were characterized as looped filaments resembling viral envelope as revealed by electron microscopy. Another form of hemagglutinin (HAnin) was obtained by solubilization of partially purified virions with Nonidet P-40 (NP-40) followed by successive high speed and CsCl density gradient centrifugations. The density of the isolated HAnin averaged 1.28 g/cm3. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the HAnin demonstrated that it was mainly composed of a glycoprotein (G) with a molecular weight of 83,000. Electron microscopically, it differed from the above non-infectious hemagglutinating particles, being much smaller in size and showing a star- or rosette-like appearance with a diameter of about 25 nm, composed of a central particle surrounded by particles resembling envelope-spikes. Virus-neutralizing (VN) and hemagglutination inhibiting (HI) antibodies were produced in rabbits immunized with the HAnin isolated from virions.     

Performance of Silicotungstic Acid Incorporated Mesoporous Catalyst in Direct Synthesis of Dimethyl Ether from Syngas in the Presence and Absence of CO2

Dimethyl ether (DME), which is an excellent green diesel fuel alternate, is synthesized following a direct synthesis route from synthesis gas, by using a bi-functional catalyst mixture, which was composed of a silicotungstic acid incorporated mesoporous catalyst [TRC-75(L)] and a commercial Cu–Zn based catalyst. Higher DME selectivity values were obtained by using TRC-75(L), than commercial γ-alumina at 50 bars. Presence of CO₂ in the feed stream caused significant enhancement in DME selectivity. Results showed that DME selectivity of about 0.85 was obtained in a temperature range 250–275 °C in the presence of 10 % CO₂. In fact, CO₂ was also used as a resource to produce DME at lower temperatures. Reverse dry reforming and ethanol formation reactions were observed as side reactions, especially at higher temperatures. Results also proved that direct synthesis of DME from syngas has major CO conversion and DME selectivity advantages over the two step process involving consecutive methanol synthesis and dehydration steps.     

Effects of Hot Rehydration in the Presence of Hydrogen Peroxide on Microbial Quality, Texture, Color, and Antioxidant Activity of Cold-stored Intermediate-moisture Sun-dried Figs

ABSTRACT: Pectin methylesterase (PME) causes considerable softening in intermediate-moisture (IM) figs rehydrated at 30°C and cold stored at 28% to 29% moisture content. Rehydration of figs at 80°C for 16 min inactivated PME partially (25–30%), but this did not prevent the softening over 3 mo of cold storage. Also, heating did not reduce the microbial load of figs significantly and increased their browning. In contrast, rehydration of figs 1st in 2.5% H₂O₂ at 80°C for 8 min and then in water at 80°C for 8 min reduced the microbial load of IM figs significantly, turned their brown color to yellow-light brown, and maintained their desired textural properties. The residual H₂O₂ in IM figs decomposed in 3 or 1.5 wk by the in situ catalase or by application of the iron (II) sulfate-ascorbic acid residue elimination method, respectively. Hot rehydration did not affect the antioxidant activity of IM figs, but treatment of figs with H₂O₂ increased their antioxidant activity slightly. These results indicate that the hot rehydration of figs in the presence of H₂O₂ and cold storage may be applied to obtain safe and SO₂-free light-colored IM fig products.     

Impact of lighting arrangements and illuminances on different impressions of a room

This study explores whether different lighting arrangements (general lighting, wall washing and cove lighting) and different illuminances (500 and 320 lux) could affect the perception of the same space. An experimental study was conducted to investigate how the qualitative aspects of space (the impressions of a space) could be enhanced with lighting. Hundred participants were first asked to choose the most suitable lighting arrangement for each impression (clarity, spaciousness, relaxation, privacy, pleasantness and order) under the 500 lux illuminance. In the second stage, they were asked to compare the two illuminances (500 and 320 lux) for the lighting arrangement they selected in the first stage. There was a statistically significant relation between impressions and lighting arrangements, also between impressions and lighting levels. Thus, different lighting arrangements and lighting levels could be used to enhance the clarity, spaciousness, relaxation, privacy, pleasantness and order of a room. The results of this study found most suitable lighting arrangements with their illuminances for each impression, which is reported in the paper.     

Optimization of Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Black Carrot Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

In this study, optimum conditions for the extraction of black carrot anthocyanins were determined by response surface methodology. Central composite design of extraction factors (pH 2.5–6.5, temperature 4–72 °C, solvent/solid ratio 5:1–25:1 v/w, ethanol/water ratio 0:100–100:0?v/v) was generated as two replicates. Total phenolic content, total monomeric anthocyanin content, polymeric color, total antioxidant activity, and anthocyanin composition determined by high-performance liquid chromatography were used as responses. Except for color analysis, higher temperature, solid/solvent ratio, and ethanol concentration were observed to increase the extraction yield. However, polymeric color results were found to have minimum values at lower pH and solid/solvent ratio, lower or moderate temperature, and higher ethanol concentration. Optimum extraction conditions were found as follows: 50 °C, pH 3.5, solvent solid ratio 10:1 (v/w), and ethanol/water ratio 75:25 (v/v) when all responses were considered. The validation of the optimum conditions for black carrot extraction was performed at specified values.     

The effect of industrial food processing on potentially health-beneficial tomato antioxidants

Increasing desires from both consumers and producers to understand better which nutritive components are present in our food and how these are influenced by industrial processing strategies is resulting in extra research involving the use of state-of-the-art technologies to generate novel biochemical information. In this review, attention has been focused on tomato as this is a product eaten right across the world both as fresh produce and after having been processed in a wide variety of ways. There is a particular interest in tomato as it is a major component in the so-called "Mediterranean diet" which has recently been associated with a healthier lifestyle. Tomatoes are rich sources of a variety of nutritional compounds and especially some key antioxidant components such as the carotenoid lycopene, vitamin C, and a range of polyphenols. The potentially protective properties of these antioxidants are of great interest and the consumer has already become aware of their potential importance. Surveying the literature has revealed that much research has been done on the biochemical composition of tomato and its products. However, it remains difficult to make clear conclusions on optimizing the processing strategy. Many, apparently conflicting, findings have been reported and consequently, in this review, we have drawn attention to these and have attempted to clarify their cause. Finally, a range of recommendations has been made as to how future research might be performed in order to generate more concrete conclusions enabling recommendations towards more optimized processing strategies.