Effect of different coagulants on the isoflavone levels and physical properties of prepared firm tofu

The objective of this study was to understand the effect of different coagulants in their ability to retain isoflavones in prepared firm tofu. Harovinton beans were processed to obtain soymilk and a specific amount of this soymilk was coagulated using different types of coagulants for the preparation of tofu. A reversed phase high performance liquid chromatographic method was used for determining the concentration of isoflavones in tofu and whey. Quality parameters such as the texture, color and moisture of tofu, prepared from different coagulants were also determined in this study. Tofus coagulated with different coagulants were found to contain different amounts of isoflavones. Calcium sulfate was found to be the most suitable coagulant for tofu making in terms of its high yield, retention of maximum amount of isoflavones and in obtaining a firm, but not hard texture of tofu.     

The US market for SO2 permits: Policy implications of the low price and trading volume

The price of SO₂ permits and the volume of trading under the US Acid Rain Program have been lower than expected. This can be explained by the creation and distribution of more permits than were initially authorized, by the sale of permits by high cost abaters who are subject to more stringent local emission constraints or who have irreversibly invested in high cost abatement technologies and by the deregulation of the natural gas and railroad industries which, in combination with incentives for cost-cutting under the new market approach to SO₂ control, has lowered marginal costs of abatement curves and made them more uniform across powerplants. The low price of permits and low trading volume are evidence that market approaches to pollution control can be more cost-effective than command and control regulations. The effect of public policies and technological changes on the allowance market are usefully examined in the context of an ideal market, in which the equilibrium price of allowances equals the marginal cost of abatement of individual powerplants. Using recent data from Coggins and Swinton (1996), we are able to explain the current price of permits with some accuracy.     

Endosonographic image of a retrorectal bowel duplication: report of a case

PURPOSE: Endosonographic image and surgical therapy of a retrorectal bowel duplication are described. METHODS, RESULTS, AND CONCLUSIONS: Compared with standard investigations, the most accurate information about a retrorectal mass in a 35-year-old woman could be obtained by means of endorectal ultrasound. Guided by endorectal ultrasound, the mass was excised using a transanal-transrectal approach, and Kraske's operation could be avoided. Additionally, histopathologic analysis of this rare disease is presented.     

Marijuana use and treatment outcome in cocaine-dependent patients.

Marijuana use was assessed in 186 people seeking treatment for cocaine dependence. Comparisons were made between clients who did and did not report using marijuana and between marijuana users who did and did not meet diagnostic criteria for marijuana dependence. The relationship between marijuana use and treatment outcome was also explored. A high rate of current marijuana use (59%) was observed at intake, and the majority of the marijuana users (74%) used marijuana at some point during treatment. Marijuana use at intake was associated with increased psychosocial impairment and substance-use severity. However, no significant adverse relations were observed between marijuana use at intake or during treatment and treatment outcome. Such functional independence may have important implications for addressing marijuana use during treatment for cocaine dependence. These findings should be interpreted with caution pending replication in prospective studies and with other treatment approaches. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of Sediment Copper on the Distribution of Benthic Macroinvertebrates in the Keweenaw Waterway

Benthic macroinvertebrates, sediment copper, and sediment particle size were examined in two areas of the Keweenaw Waterway. The north area is downdrift from deposits of copper tailings. South area sediment averaged 27% silt and clay and north area sediment 66%. South area sediment had an average copper content of 33 mg/kg and north area sediment 589 mg/kg. The number of invertebrates was 4.3 times greater in the south than the north. The average number of taxa at south stations was 20 and at north stations 8. Mollusks, mayflies, and crustaceans were common in the south but rare or absent in the north. Hexagenia was the most abundant animal in the south. A single individual was found in the north, at the only north station with low sediment copper. Three north stations with sediment particle size similar to south stations had the same restricted fauna of chironomids and oligochaetes as that found at other north stations. Equitability and Shannon-Wiener diversity values for most north stations did not indicate pollution because of the extremely low, and thus, even numbers of individuals collected in all taxa. Twenty-six taxa were common to both areas. Four taxa, found only in the north, were represented by five individuals. Twenty-five taxa, found only in the south, were represented by 1,007 individuals. The likely cause of the reduced invertebrate fauna in the north area is high levels of sediment copper.     

Hexagonal dislocation networks in titanium

Hexagonal dislocation networks which occurred in as-annealed commercial Ti-A 50 rod and following partial extrusion under hydrostatic pressure at room temperature were studied using transmission electron microscopy. For the as-annealed condition networks were observed on the prism, basal and {2•1•1x} planes, while for the extrusion networks were only observed on the basal plane. The various stages in the development of the networks are presented and mechanisms by which they form are proposed. The self energies of the dislocation hexagons constituting the various networks are calculated using the equations proposed by de Wit and Ruff. They increase in the order: a) networks on the basal plane in the as-annealed condition, b) networks on the prism plane in the asannealed condition and c) networks on the basal plane in the partially extruded condition. This paper is based on Doctoral Thesis presented in October 1973 by S. P. AGRAWAL to the Department of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science at the University of Kentucky.     

Comparing traditional and Rasch analyses of the Mississippi PTSD Scale: revealing limitations of reverse-scored items

This study examined whether Rasch analysis could provide more information than true score theory (TST) in determining the usefulness of reverse-scored items in the Mississippi Scale for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (M-PTSD). Subjects were 803 individuals in inpatient PTSD units at 10 VA sites. TST indicated that the M-PTSD performed well and could be improved slightly by deleting one item. Factor analysis using raw scores indicated that the reverse-scored items formed the second factor and had poor relationships with normally scored items. However, since item-total correlations supported their usefulness, they were kept. The subsequent Rasch analysis indicated that five of the seven worst fitting items were reverse-scored items. We concluded that using reversed items with disturbed patients can cause confusion that reduces reliability. Deleting them improved validity without loss of reliability. The study supports the use of Rasch analysis over TST in health research since it indicated ways to reduce respondent burden while maintaining reliability and improving validity.     

Internet (WWW) based system of ultrasonic image processing tools for remote image analysis

Ultrasonic Doppler color imaging can provide anatomic information and simultaneously render flow information within blood vessels for diagnostic purpose. Many researchers are currently developing ultrasound image processing algorithms in order to provide physicians with accurate clinical parameters from the images. Because researchers use a variety of computer languages and work on different computer platforms to implement their algorithms, it is difficult for other researchers and physicians to access those programs. A system has been developed using World Wide Web (WWW) technologies and HTTP communication protocols to publish our ultrasonic Angle Independent Doppler Color Image (AIDCI) processing algorithm and several general measurement tools on the Internet, where authorized researchers and physicians can easily access the program using web browsers to carry out remote analysis of their local ultrasonic images or images provided from the database. In order to overcome potential incompatibility between programs and users' computer platforms, ActiveX technology was used in this project. The technique developed may also be used for other research fields.